Clasp.



IINTTED STATES Patented January 3, 1905.

PATENT Ormes.

CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 779,100, dated January 3, 1905.

Application 'lled February 3, 1904. Serial No. 191,794.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN L. SnNDnRL1Ne,a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Jersey Oity, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Olasps, of which the following' is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in clasps, and has more particularly for its object to form a clasp from a single strip of metal, the metal being bent to form two jaws and a portion oi' the metal between the jaws being bent inwardly to form a spring of such character as to permit the jaws to be readily opened by pressure upon the back of the spring.

A further object is to provide a clasp of the above character with one or more ears forming extensions of one or the other of the jaws to facilitate the opening of the clasp.

A still further object is to provide a papercutting blade formed from the metal of which the clasp is formed, the clasp and paper-cuty ting blade serving also as a convenient book- 'mark, for the reason that the clasp may be engaged with the book for holding the bookmark in its required place against unintentional removal.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents the clasp in longitudinal vertical section, this form showing a paper-cutting blade forming an extension of one of the jaws and two ears struck from the metal and Jforming rear extensions of the jaws. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 isaview of the blank and after it has been stamped from a strip of metal. Fig. 4 is a plan view of a portion of a blank oi' slightly-modifiedl form. Fig. 5 is a plan view oi a portion of ablank of another form. 'Figa 6 is a side view oi' a clasp in which the portion of the metal between the jawsis bent inwardly to a considerable extent for assisting in the ready opening oi' the clasp by pressure upon the jaws back of the inner point of the spring. Fig. 7 is a side view ot a clasp Jformed from the blank shown in Fig. 4; and Fig. 8 is a view in side elevation of the form'of clasp shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 without the paper-cutting blade.

The blank, which is cut from a strip of sheet metal, is bent to form two jaws l and 2, and the portion of the metal between the jaws is bent inwardly, as shown at 3, to form a spring tending to hold the clasp closed. One of the jawsin the present instance the jaw 1is extended to form a paper-cutting blade 4, which may be made of any desired shape and length. Ears 5 and 6 are struck from the jaws in such a manner that when the metal is bent to form the jaws the ear 5 forms a rear extension oi' the jaw 2 and the ear 6 forms a rear extension of the jaw l. One of the ears-the ear 6, for instancewmay be provided with a hole 7 therethrough for the attachment of the clasp to some suitable support. The portion of the metal between the jaws at the back oi' the clasp may be bent inwardly to a greater or lesser extent, as found desirable to suit diiferent requirements.

In the form shown in Fig. 4 the ear 5 only is struck from the metal of the clasp to form an extension oi' the jaw 2 when the metal is bent to form the clasp.

In the form shown in Fig. 5 the ear 6 only is struck from the metal, so that it will form an extension oi' the jaw l when the metal is bent to form the clasp.

In Fig. 6 the use of ears is obviated, as the metal between the jaws is bent inwardly a sufticient distance to permit the jaws to be swung apart by pressing them together at points back of the inward bend of the spring.

In Fig. 8 I have shown a clasp without the paper-cutting blade.

It will be seen that a clasp formed as herein set forth is extremely simple and inexpensive and in which provision is made for readily opening the clasp against the tension of its spring and in which the spring is formed from the metal of the clasp, the entire clasp being formed from a singlegpiece. Furthermore,

by providing one oi' the jaws with a front extension to form a paper-cutting blade I am enabled to increase the usefulness of the clasp, permitting it to be used as a book-mark, as well as a paper-cutter, and also a book-mark of such form as will absolutely prevent its IOO being unintentionally displaced from the position in which it is placed in a book.

It is evident that the clasp may be made in various shapes and sizes without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. Hence I do not wish to limit myself strictly to the form herein set forth; but

What I claim isfl. A clasp comprising a single strip of metal bent to form two jaws, the metal between the jaws being bent inwardly to form a spring and an ear struck from the metal forming a rear extension of one of the jaws.

2. Aclasp comprising a single strip of metal bent to form two jaws, the metal between the jaws being bent inwardly to form a spring, an ear struck from the metal forming a rear eX- tension of one of the jaws and a paper-cutting blade formed by a front extension of one of the jaws.

3. A clasp comprising a single strip of metal bent to form two jaws, the metal between the jaws being bent inwardly to form a spring and ears struck from the metal forming rear extensions of the jaws for use in opening them.

4. Aclasp comprising a single strip of metal bent to form two jaws, the metal between the jaws being bent inwardly to form a spring, ears struck from the metal forming rear eX- tensions of the jaws, and a paper cutting blade forming a front extension of one of the jaws.

5. A clamp comprising a single strip of metal bent to form two jaws, a portion of the metal between the jaws being bent inwardly to form a spring, said spring portion being cut away to give greater flexibility to the spring without losing the rigidity of the jaws.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two witnesses, this lst day of February, 1904:.

MARTIN L. SENDERLING. Witnesses:

FREDK. HAYNEs, HENRY THIEME. 

